Use Joyfulness to Stay Strong in Tough Times

“Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV

Gratitude is something that we often get stopped from doing because it forms the baseline of the kind of life we will have. Ask the average person to be grateful for twenty things and you’ll see the thought and effort that goes into identifying what they are. Why? Gratitude is intentional.

Gratitude isn’t only done when things are good but also when they’re not so good. Did your boss dump your presentation in the trash? We’re advised to be grateful. Did you lose your job? You should be grateful. How? Does that even make sense?

You can’t force yourself to be grateful for a terrible thing. But the secret to gratitude is to count the blessings in tough situations. I used to know this secret, but I forgot it for years until recently when I listened to a Sermon.

For example, if your boss trashed your presentation, then be grateful for the opportunity to develop yourself and do a much better presentation. If you just lost your job, then be grateful for the opportunity to start anew, pursue something you’ve been passionate about for a long time, rest, or just the fact that you’re about to experience something different.

Why is gratitude so important?

1. Gratitude leads to joy

When you start being grateful, you eventually have a reason to rejoice. Being able to recognise the move of God in a situation builds up joy in your heart. Others would expect that you shouldn’t be joyful, but because you see what they can’t see and know what they don’t know, you’ll approach the situation differently.

2. Joy leads to strength

This is obvious. Positivity strengthens you. Negativity weakens you. The focus scripture says that joy is strength. When you look at the tough situation, count your blessings and see what God has done, it will surprise you.

Joy also leads to strength because it keeps you in God’s presence. In the presence of God, there is fullness of joy, not sorrow, depression, or negativity. God’s presence is where you want to be always.

Are you going through a tough time at work and in life that has kept you down? You don’t need to lie to yourself and others that you’re joyful. Start by being grateful for what God is doing through the situation and you’ll see the joy grow in you. Let’s all stay joyful.